Studying in Scotland

Why study in Scotland?

'88% of international students in Scotland are satisfied with all aspects of their experience at Scottish Universities...amongst the highest rates of student satisfaction with the quality of teaching in the UK'. (International Student Barometer, 2022)

Scotland is a very welcoming country. We’re genuinely happy to see newcomers and make them feel at home. Our supportive communities are made up of people from all over the world, meaning Scotland is now home to over 150 languages and many different nationalities.

Plus over 20% of students in Scottish universities are from outside the country, so we really know how to make you feel welcome.

About Scottish degrees

Scottish undergraduate degrees involve four years of study to give you a broader and more flexible education.

In years 1 and 2, you'll study some fairly broad modules related to your subject area. In years 3 and 4, your studies become completely focussed on the subject you've chosen.

For example, if you take Ethical Hacking, in the first two years you'll study computing, programming and software development. Then, in the last two years, you'll focus solely on Ethical Hacking.

This means that even if you know exactly what you want to do, you add more to your education. All of this is designed to make your skills and in-depth knowledge more attractive to employers, giving you the best start to your career.

Scottish degrees are recognised globally

Scotland is a small country but it's mighty when it comes to education. We've invested in education for centuries, which means no matter where you choose to live, your Scottish degree will be recognised and respected.

Whatever kind of degree you study, and wherever you work afterwards, it's reassuring to know that your degree will be highly valued.

And in the case of Abertay’s games degrees, your degree will be from a world-leading games school.

We'll make you employable

Graduates from Scottish institutions enjoy an average starting salary of £23,000 or more, which is higher than the UK average. AND more than 85% of Scottish employers stated that they were ‘very satisfied’ with the work readiness of graduates from our universities.

Abertay degrees are vocational, so the skills and knowledge you learn are created in partnership with industry. This means work placements, mentoring, internships and real-world projects are all part of what we do.

Whatever you do afterwards, we aim to make you work-ready and able to seize employment opportunities from the very start.

^{Photo credit: Dundee One City, Many Discoveries}

Places to visit

When you’re not studying, you'll have PLENTY to see and do:

Visit Edinburgh and Glasgow, which are only 1.5 - 2 hours away by car or train.
Loch Ness – maybe you'll see the legendary creature!
There are A LOT of castles like Edinburgh, Stirling, Balmoral, Glamis, Dunnottar. Dundee has six to help get you started.
Scotland is full of historical sites. For example, Orkney has 5,000 year old houses and tombs as well as medieval churches and renaissance palaces.
You can also discover stone-carving Picts, warring clans, invading Vikings, enlightened philosophers, amazing poets and one Bonnie Prince.
Not forgetting that the film 'Braveheart' and the TV series 'Outlander' were filmed on location all over Scotland.

We had a hard time keeping the list short, so check out more on VisitScotland.

The great outdoors

Everyone knows Scotland is beautiful. In fact, Rough Guide readers voted Scotland the most beautiful country in the world beating countries like Canada and New Zealand.

Getting from Dundee out into the countryside takes 20 minutes max. With two national parks, some of the most beautiful beaches in the UK and 282 Munros (mountains over 3,000 feet), to walk, climb, bike or ski down, you really are spoilt for choice. And you’ll often have the place to yourself – apart from the odd bird, deer, seal or dolphin accompanying you.

It’s a small country, which means the sea, mountains and forests are so close you can even visit all three in a day. Unless you want to take your time and savour it, that is.

^{Photo credit: Dundee One City, Many Discoveries}

The weather

Yes, we can experience all four seasons in one day, but that’s partly what makes living here fun.

While some think it rains here all the time, that's not strictly true. It does rain, but not much more than the rest of the UK. The really good news is that Dundee is the sunniest city in Scotland, so even in winter we get more sunshine than the rest of the country.

We’re not sure who was actually said it, but we all agree there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes. Layers are a good idea, and so is a proper waterproof jacket. Be sure to get yourself kitted out when you come here.

Dundee is very affordable

Dundee is one of the most affordable UK cities to live in.

This means that monthly household costs are roughly 20% cheaper than the national average, and it is at least 20% cheaper than living in London. The 2024 property prices were nearly 50% lower than the UK average. So being a student here shouldn't break your budget.

The extra bit of cash in your pocket means more money to enjoy our cultural scene, cafes, food and nightlife.

Find out all about living in Dundee.

Abertay University

If you're looking to become an exceptional candidate in an increasingly competitive job market, we believe there's no better place to study than Abertay. Here are just a few reasons why we think that.